Fabric cleaning device



March 3, 1970 H. 'r. SAWYER FABRIC CLEANING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1967 1 N VEN TOR. 5 nw 9E2 Zed! March 3, 1970 H. T. SAWYER 3,497,898

' FABRIC CLEANING DEVICE Filed May 29, 1967 s Sheets-Sheet 5 lze i 1 .15?

H3 H7 H6 H2 I N VEN TOR. HoeoLp 7. Sawyer? lQl M HTTQ/QAIEYS United States Patent 3,497,898 FABRIC CLEANING DEVICE Harold T. Sawyer, Los Angeles, Calif, assignor of seventeen and one-half percent to Vernon l). Beehler, and eighty-two and one-half percent to Harold T. Sawyer, both of Los Angeles, Calif.

Continuation-in-part of applications Ser. No. 480,310, Aug. 17, 1965, and Ser. No. 631,736, Apr. 18, 1967. This application May 29, 1967, Ser. No. 642,077

int. Cl. 1308b 7/00; A471 11/00; 1006f 95/00 US. Cl. 15-98 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to cleaning devices especially advantageous fabrics, textiles, rugs, carpets, upholstery, and the like, by employment of sonic energy in the low sonic range. In the embodiment illustrated, there is a spherical shell of relatively stiff resilient consistency which is very thin walled, light in weight and which is designed to vibrate at or near its own natural frequency. A source of energy here taking the form of an electric motor is mounted in the chamber within the shell. One end of the motor shaft is supported by an eccentric which revolves within a bearing connection installed in a supporting pedestal which is attached at one location only to the shell, namely in a line radial with respect to the direction of rotational motion of the motor. The motor casing at the opposite end is attached to a resilient isolation mount installed within a boss extending outwardly from the shell in line with the motor axis. A manipulating handle is resiliently attached to the boss. A tool holder is attached to the shell at one attachment location only of the supporting pedestal and the shell. The tool holder is designed as a plate beam and to vibrate at or near its own natural frequency which is in phase with the rotational action of the motor assembly. The tool has a perforated work contacting face behind which is a shallow accumulator chamber backed by an inperforate plate, the whole capable of being vibrated at a frequency approaching resonance. The Work plate and the imperforate plate are constructed of thin wall, stiff resilient material capable of being vibrated at or near its own natural frequency. Behind the imperforate plate and making up the balance of the tool is a mass of material of such character that it may approach resonance, such for example as industrial urethane foam, the whole being attached to the tool holder plate beam in such manner that it will be free to vibrate at or near its natural frequency and in phase with the spherical shell and plate beam tool holder.

Cleaning fluid is introduced into the accumulator chamher through an appropriate feed line and there set in cavitation by sound wave energy set up by sinusoidal force action of the revolving motor mass through the shell and plate beam tool holder. The cleaning fluid then passes outwardly to the fabric through the perforated work contacting plate in a foamed condition within which cavitation is taking place and at which point the fibers of the fabric being substantially vertical individual cantilever beams, in many instances of use, are subsequently vibrated and cleaned by the cavitation action created by the compressional sound wave energy produced and transmitted by the cleaning device. The cavitation cleaning action is unique in that each individual fiber as a cantilever beam is surrounded by the cavitation action in the foam, separated one from another, prevented from tangling, individually cleaned and realigned. Cavitation is known in the art as having its most intense and efiicient cleaning action at the lower sonic frequency range.

3,497,898 Patented Mar. 3, 1970 ice Fabric cleaning devices heretofore prevalent and in general use customarily employ mechanical scrubbing tools or brushes. In certain rug and carpet cleaning appliances the cleaning fluid is applied to the brushes and thence to the rug surfaces. The fluid is then scrubbed into the rug or carpet surface by action of the brushes during which operation some of the fluid foams and turns to lather. The scrubbing action tends to rub dirt from the upper surface portion only of those fibers actually in contact with the brush bristles. Further cleaning action is dependent wholly upon the detergent action of chemicals within the fluid. Dirt at the base of the fibers or pile is relatively untouched. In order to operate a machine of the type described, a relatively heavy, powerful motor is employed, the brush holding discs or assembly are quite large and heavy and the machine as a whole has appreciable weight. Since a scrubbing action is depended upon, the pile of the rug or carpet, for example, is brushed in the direction of the mechanical motion of the brush holding assembly and because of the weight of the appliance and the fluid necessary for this operation the fibers are pressed flat against the carpet backing. This results in only a portion of the pile being cleaned, probable serious damage to the texture of the pile and the mechanically forcing of dirt and fluid to the base of the fibers and into the backing. Despite finishing operations which include vacuuming to remove excess fluid and dirt, and a brush or squeege cycle to raise the pile from its compressed position, all of the dirt cannot be reached with these conventional appliances and methods thereby leaving dirt at the base of the fibers, many of which are still flattened and matted in the remaining fluid. The entire operation has only cleaned the upper surfaces of the fibers and in numerous cases has damaged the pile in the center of the work area while not being able to properly clean edges and corners which must be completed by hand methods. This accounts for differences in texture between the open areas of carpeting as compared with edge or corner areas.

Further still, because of the mechanical motion of the scrubbing devices, whether it be rotary or oscillating, numerous passes over the same relative paths must be made to assure proper coverage of the work area. Time is of the essence in a competitive market and repetitive operations are time consuming and expensive. This is a continuation-in-part of copending applications Ser. No. 480,310, filed Aug. 17, 1965, now Patent No. 3,357,033, issued Dec. 12, 1967; and Ser. No. 631,736 filed Apr. 18, 1967.

Although sonic energy cleaning devices exemplified by applicants Patent 3,310,129 and copending applications, Ser. No. 480,310, filed Aug. 17,1965, now Patent No. 3,357,033, issued Dec. 12, 1967; and Ser. No. 631,736, filed Apr. 18, 1967, disclose devices for making use of sonic energy in the low sonic range for cleaning and even for fabric and surface cleaning, these devices lack certain appurtenances which are needed to employ the principle for complete fabric cleaning. It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable fabric cleaning appliance which makes use of sonic energy in the application of a cleaning fluid to the fabric.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved portable hand operated fabric cleaning appliance which is substantially low powered, light in weight, and highly efiicient in the employment of sonic energy and which is capable of cavitating a cleaning foam, which would be applied to the fabric during application and while the foam is in contact with the fabric, thereby to thoroughly clean to an appreciable depth, while at the same time making it possible to revitalize the condition of the fibers of the fabric after completion of the cleaning operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved fabric cleaning appliance which is substantially portable and easy to operate by hand, the appliance being such that it consumes relatively little energy, can be moved about over the fabric surface with particular case, which is of such construction that it can be operated close to the base board when used for cleaning rugs and carpets on the floor, which is capable of reaching into corners, and which at the same time is of such construction that there need be no mechanical scrubbing of the fabric during the cleaning operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side perspective view of the fabric cleaning device shown in a position applied to a surface to be cleaned.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the tool partially broken away.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary bottom view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of another form of the work contacting plate.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary bottom view of the plate of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of another form of work contacting plate.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary bottom View taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE '8.

FIGURE 10 is a front elevational view partially in section showing still another form of tool.

FIGURE 11 is a front elevational view of the device equipped with a modified type of mounting.

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of the device of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 1313 of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged side elevational view of the modified mounting with portions broken away.

FIGURE 15 is a plan view taken on the line 15-15 of FIGURE 14.

In the device of the chosen embodiment there is provided a substantially spherical thin wall hollow shell 10 provided with a handle 11 and a plate beam tool holder 12 capable of being resonated. A reservoir 13 for cleaning fluid is fastened to the handle 11 and fluid supply tubes 14 conduct cleaning fluid through the tool holder wherein the cleaning fluid is fed to an accumulator chamber 15 from which it is ejected through a multiplicity of perforations or orifices '16 in a work contacting plate beam 17 capable of being resonated.

Within the shell 10 there is mounted a motor 18, one end 19 of which has a resilient isolation mount 20 here taking the form of a spring. At the other end 21 of the motor a motor shaft 22 has an eccentric device installed in a bearing 23 which comprises the upper end of a pedestal 24, the pedestal in turn being secured at a single location to a block 25. More particularly the bearing 23 is provided with an eccentric disc 26- rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 27 and the motor shaft 22 is nonrotatably mounted on the eccentric disc 26 at an eccentric location relative to the axis of the stub shaft 27. Accordingly, when the motor 18 is set in operation and the motor shaft 22 rotates, the eccentric disc 26 is simultaneously caused to rotate about the axis of the stub shaft 27. This operaof the cone being at the resilient isolation mount 20. The

motor thus rotates about an axis substantially coincident with the stub shaft 27 of the eccentrically designed assembly on the pedestal and the axis of the opposite end 19 of the motor. The sinusoidal force thus generated by the rotating mass of the motor is passed through the pedestal 24 to the block 25 and in that way to the shell 10 and thus to the plate beam tool holder 12 for use of the sonic energy generated.

It is significant that the block 25 is in radial alignment with the axis about which the motor mass operates and is approximately in line transversely with the center of mass of the motor. Bolts 28 fasten a base 29 of the bracket 24 to the block 25. Lead wires 30 and 31 which conduct electricity to the motor pass through staggered sound blocking wafers 32 and 33 in the handle to a cap 34 where they can interconnect with an appropriate cord. A pot-ting 35, 36 of an appropriate damping resin material may be employed to anchor the wires 30*, 31 and also to fasten the handle 11 to a boss 37.

The plate beam tool holder which heretofore has been indicated generally by the reference character 12 consists of a tool holding resonating plate beam 40 which anchors directly to the block 25 by an appropriate conventional attachment, depending upon the materials employed for the block and the tool holding plate beam. When the materials are stainless steel, they may be welded, or when plastic they may be attached by an appropriate compatible or soluble adhesive, or on occasions formed and assembled as a single piece. Opposite sides 41 and 42 of the tool holding plate beam 40 are bent slightly inwardly in order to effectively retain a sonic energy transmitting material pad 43 which may be of relatively soft, high density, open pore cellular substance capable of being resonated, such for example as industrial open pore urethane. The pad 43 is preferably bonded to an impervious back-up plate beam 44 which has already been made reference to as forming the inside wall of the accumulator chamber 15. The work contacting plate beam 17 has peripheral flanges 45, 46, 47, etc., which overlie complementary flanges 48 of the backup plate beam 44 and to which they are bonded to make a sealed connection.

Tubular posts 50 and 51 are installed through their respective locations in the back-up plate beam 44 and service as connections for the tubes 14. The post 50, as shown in FIGURE 2, extends through grommet 52 which outlines holes 53 through the tool holding plate beam 40.

Although the lower surface of the work contacting plate beam 17 has been shown as one made perfectly smooth, some circumstances may suggest a somewhat rougher Work contacting plate beam, like the work contacting plate beam 55 shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. On the face of the work contacting plate beam 55 are diagonally directed depressions 56 which extend across the lower face of the plate beam 55 and substantially uniformly spaced perforations 57 communicate between the accumulator chamber 15 and the depressions 56 along their respective center lines.

Still another form of work contacting plate beam 60 is shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. For this construction perforations 61 communicate with respective individual pockets 62 which are spaced from each other on the lower face of the plate beam 60 as shown in FIGURE 9.

In other words the masses, sizes and relative positions of the sundry parts of the device are designed to vibrate at or near their respective natural frequencies when vibrated by the eccentric motor mass operating at a selected power input.

It will also be understood that there may also be supplied for use with the plate beam tool holder 12 a plate beam assembly 65 as shown in FIGURE 10, the assembly being one consisting of a sonic energy transmitting pad 66, a work engaging pad 67 and a carrier plate beam 68 to which both pads are bonded by an appropriate adhesive. Posts 69 and 70 are mounted upon the carrier plate beam 68 whereby to transmit liquid through the pad 66, the carrier plate beam 68, and through a passage 71 in the work engaging pad 67. In this way liquid of the type desired may be passed directly and uniformly to the surface upon which work is to be performed where the work engaging pad 67, when in a condition of resonance, makes use of the liquid in treating the surface of the Work.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 11 through 15, inclusive, a shell 80 is shown mounted on a tool holding plate 81 by means of an outside block 82 having a hemispheroidal recess 83 and an inside block 84 having a lower face 85 shaped to match the adjacent portion of the interior of the shell 80. The inside block 84 is preferably of Fiberglas reinforced synthetic resin welded at the lower face 85 to the inside surface of the shell. The tool holding plate 81 can be of aluminum or stainless steel, in which event the outside block 82 also may be made of matching aluminum or stainless steel. The tool holding plate 81 is attached by means of bolts 86.

In operation the appliance is first set up as shown and described in connection with FIGURES 1 through 5 inclusive. The reservoir 13 is filled with cleaning fluid, the appliance is placed upon the surface to be cleaned, the motor started and fluid shut-off valve 72 opened to full flow condition. The valve 72 need not be a regulating valve, since it can be arranged in full open position to supply sufficient ffuid under circumstances wherein the call for fluid will be a constant one depending upon the structure of the appliance. Liquid then flows through the tubes 14 into the accumulator chamber 15 filling the chamber. The liquid in the chamber 15 will be in a condition approaching resonance and cavitation will begin by action of the machine and the liquid thus in a condition approaching resonance. The liquid will be ejected as foam through the multiple perforations 16 onto the fabric, uniformly throughout the area of the plate beam 17. Because the liquid is in a state of cavitation an intense energy force is created within the accumulator chamber 15 and as it emerges from the perforations 16, it will emerge in the form of a foam as it is cavitated into the fabric. As the operation of the appliance continues, cavitation will continue to exist in the foam as it surrounds the fibers of the fabric and passes through and around the pile of the fabric, if it be a rug or carpet, to the anchoring base of the fibers. This will be suflicient to likewise place the individual fibers in a condition of resonance in the form of individual cantilever beams, accounting rnore and more for the efficient cleaning action of the appliance. Since there is a substantially constant emission of foam through the perforations 16, and constant cavitation within the liquid, the vibrating plate beam 17 and all that it supports will rest but very lightly on the surface on which the work is being performed and the appliance can then be moved steadily and freely, and with little physical exertion over all portions of the surface, near the base board and into the corners. The work progresses as described until all portions of the work have thus been treated with the cavitation cleaning action within the fabric.

The shut-off valve 72 is then closed and the resonating appliance is then guided over the surface to continue cavitation of the foam within the fibers and the fibers themselves to complete the cleaning operation.

Thereafter the foam and the dirt which it has gathered can be removed either by means of a commercial wet vacuum cleaning device or vacuumed after the material is dry. Should not all of the foam be capable of removal in the first instance as described, the fabric cleaning device as heretofore described with the liquid cleaner shut off, is again passed over the surface during which operation the fibers will also vibrate at or near their natural frequency and the resultant vacuum action of the cavitation induced in moisture around the fibers will draw the ;.residual foam and moisture to the surface at which time .it can be removed as previously described by a vacuum device or squeegee. Mechanically induced vacuuming will assist in raising the fibers forming the nap. The cavitation action described not only serves to keep fibers of the pile or fabric separate and untangled but also serves to remove all excess moisture from the bottom of the pile so that the material being only moist and not wet at the conclusion of the treatment will dry with reasonable rapidity. Because of the cavitation action of the cleaning device as described it is not necessary to follow up the operation with a brushing operation in order to have the fibers being cleaned stand properly and separately.

It will be further understood that by having the sinusoidal, force action generated by the motor applied at only one location to the resonating shell, all of the energy is funneled through that pedestal mounting to the vibrating plate beam structure and the frequency of that assembled structure is designed to be in phase for best results.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 11 through 15, inclusive, a shell capable of beingresonated is shown mounted on a tool holding plate beam 81 by means of an outside block 82 having a hemispheroidal recess 83 and an inside block 84 having a lower face 85 shaped to match the adjacent portion of the in terior of the shell 80. The inside block 84 is preferably of Fiberglas reinforced synthetic resin Welded at the lower face 85 to the inside surface of the shell. For most purposes the tool holding plate beam 81 can be of aluminum or stainless steel, in which event the outside block 82 is also made of matching aluminum or stainless steel, the tool holding plate beam 81 being attached to the outside block 82 by means of bolts 86 which extend through the shell 80 and into the inside block 84.

Within the shell 80 is a chamber 87 which provides ample space for the mounting of a motor 88. As in the first described form of the cleaning device there is a single pedestal or bracket 89 for mounting the motor shaft eccentric bearing 104 at one end 90 of the motor 88 and a boss 91 for mounting the motor 88 at the other end 92 of the motor. At the end 92 of the motor is a flange 94 on which is a stub shaft 95, which in turn is supported in a recess 96 of the boss 91. An annular bushing 97 has a bore 98 which accommodates a retention sleeve 99 with a pressed fit. The retention sleeve 90 may be press fit to the bushing 97. A mounting or diaphragm 100 of resilient material is confined by the retention sleeve 99 and extending through the retention sleeve 99 is a cylindrical sleeve 101 which surrounds and accommodates the stub shaft '95. A nut 102 and washer 103 serve to retain the mounting or diaphragm 100 and retention sleeve on the stub shaft 95.

At the other end 90 where a motor shaft 93 protrudes there is provided an eccentric disc 104 fixed nonrotatably to the motor shaft, the eccentric disc 104 having a stub shaft 105 revolving within a bearing connection 106 on the upstanding end of the pedestal 89. The opposite end 103 of the pedestal 8 9 is securely attached to the outside block 82 by means of bolts 107 which extend through nylon or other appropriate plastic flanged bushings 108, to electrically isolate them from the bracket.

In order to provide an attachment for a handle 110 and handle shaft 111, a channel section 112 is bolted to the underside of the boss 91 by means of bolts 113, seen advantageously in FIGURES 13, 14, and 15. At each end of the channel section 112 is a noise, shock and vibration isolation mount 114 comprising a section of resiliently designed material. A bracket 115 is secured over the isolator mount 114 to the channel section 112 by means of a bolt 116 provided with an appropriate nut 117 and 118.

7 A yoke 120 may be secured to the lower end of the handle shaft 111 with a leg 121 at each end provided with an extension 122 pivotally secured to the respective bracket 115 by a bolt 123 and nut 124, or by other conventional means.

Mounted as described, the pivotal connections formed by the bolt 123 are more or less at the center of mass and also relatively close to whatever surface the tool holding plate beam 81 might be applied so that the tool holding plate beam 81 can be shifted readily over the surface by the handle and the handle pivoted up, or down depending upon the need to manipulate it appropriately.

On those occasions Where some liquid supply is to be provided, as for example, for a fabric cleaning tool, a supply tank 130 is mounted on the handle shaft 111. An outlet pipe 131 feeds liquid to a manifold 132 from which extend supply tubes 133. Appropriate fittings 134 attach the supply tubes 133 in each instance so as to pass through the tool holding plate beam 81. By making the supply tubes 133 of flexible material, the handle shaft 111 can be pivoted freely without interfering with the connections of the supply tubes 133 between the manifold and the tool holding plate beam 81.

As a further convenience a fitting 135 may be provided to accommodaate an electric lead connection 136 so that electric wires may extend through a passage 137 in the boss 91 and by this means be led into the chamber 87 for connection to the motor 88.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of letters Patent is:

1. A sonic energy type conditioning device capable of generating a sinusoidal force comprising a hollow shell of relatively stiff resilient consistency having a chamber therein and having the capability of being vibrated at or near its own natural frequency, a power actuated rotationally movable mass in the chamber, said mass having an attachment to said shell at one location only in a line substantially radial with respect to the direction of rotational motion, a tool holder attached to the shell at said one location, said tool holder having the capability of being vibrated at or near its own natural frequency, a tool comprising a pad and a pair of spaced substantially parallel plates spaced from said tool holder and forming an accumulator chamber for holding and releasing fluid, one of said plates comprising a back-up plate and the other of said plates comprising a work contacting plate having a surface contour adapted to substantially uniformly engage a surface to be conditioned and comprising the sole support for said device on said surface, said work contacting plate having a multiplicity of perforations having openings at substantially uniform distances from each other and dispersed over said work contacting plate, said tool including said pad, said plates and said accumulator chamber having the capability of being vibrated at or near its natural frequency by acoustical wave energy received from the tool holder and reproducing acoustical wave energy effecting cavitation of said liquid, said pad forming when assembled with the tool holder an operating contact with said tool holder, said pad comprising a cellular, resilient material, capable of being vibrated at or near its own natural fre quency in order to receive and transmit acoustic wave energy from the tool holder to the back-up plate.

2. A cleaning device according to claim 1 wherein there is a liquid supply means extending through said tool holder and in communication with said accumulator chamber for supplying cleaning liquid to said accumulator chamber and through said perforations to a fabric while being subjected to said acoustic wave energy effecting vibration of said liquid at or near its own natural frequency.

3. A cleaning device according to claim 2 wherein the resonating accumulator chamber is relatively thin and said liquid supply means where it is in communication with said chamber is at the nodes of resonance induced in said tool by sinusoidal force action.

4. A cleaning device according to claim 2 wherein there is a handle attached to the shell and a reservoir of cleaning liquid on said handle in communication with said accumulator chamber.

5. A cleaning device according to claim 4 wherein there are depressions in the Work contacting plate at the outlet ends of the perforations in said plate.

6. A cleaning device according to claim 5 wherein said depressions have walls in positions transverse to a path of travel of said work contacting plate over a fabric.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,215,996 2/1917 Scandlyn 12865 1,267,833 5/1918 Wilson 12865 2,854,969 10/1958 Nolan 128--65 3,089,790 5/1963 Balamuth et al. 134l 3,139,101 6/1964 Wyczalek et al 134-186 3,154,890 11/1964 Lemelson 134-1 X 3,166,772 1/1965 Bodine 1550 X 3,166,773 1/1965 Wyczalek 1597 3,310,129 3/1967 Sawyer.

3,357,033 12/1967 Sawyer 15-98 3,153,251 10/1964 Ohlson 15-50 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner L. G. MACHLIN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 68-3 

